By Yossy Arefi
- Total Time
- 1 hour, plus cooling
- Rating
- 4(901)
- Notes
- Read community notes
This super chocolaty cake is gorgeous. It rises high in the oven, only to slump back on itself, creating a light crisp top and fudgy center. The ingredient list is fairly straightforward, but the power of eggs helps make this cake special. Whipped egg yolks, along with a generous amount of butter and chocolate, give this cake richness, and pillowy meringue lightens the batter and helps the cake rise to a dramatic finish. Serve slices straight up, or with ice cream or a bit of lightly sweetened whipped cream spiked with vanilla or rum. For the richest chocolate flavor, use a chocolate that has around 70 percent cacao.
Featured in: 3 New Chocolate Desserts for Everyone You Love
Learn: How to Make Soufflé
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Ingredients
Yield:One 9-inch cake (6 to 8 servings)
- ¾cup/170 grams unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for greasing the pan
- 2cups/300 grams finely chopped bittersweet chocolate (not chips; see Tip), preferably around 70 percent cacao
- 1cup/200 grams granulated sugar
- 5large eggs
- 2tablespoons dark rum (optional but tasty)
- 2teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional but tasty)
- ¾teaspoon fine salt
- 2teaspoons cocoa powder, to garnish
- Lightly sweetened whipped cream or ice cream, to serve
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)
486 calories; 32 grams fat; 19 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 50 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 46 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 269 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
Step
1
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
Step
2
In a large heat-safe bowl set over a pot of simmering water, or in a microwave, melt the butter and chocolate together; stir until smooth.
Step
3
Add ¼ cup/50 grams of the sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Separate 4 of the eggs and add the yolks and remaining whole egg to the sugar in the stand mixer bowl. (Alternatively, you can use a large bowl and handheld electric mixer.) Beat on medium-high speed until light in color, foamy and about doubled in volume, about 5 minutes. The egg mixture should fall from the whisk in ribbons.
Step
4
Add the egg mixture to the melted chocolate mixture. Add the rum (if using), vanilla, espresso powder (if using) and salt; fold gently until combined and no streaks remain.
Step
5
Wash and dry the mixer bowl, add the remaining egg whites and beat on medium-high until foamy. Slowly add the remaining ¾ cup/150 grams sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes.
Step
6
Add about 1 cup of the egg white mixture to the chocolate mixture and fold until well combined. Add the remaining egg white mixture and fold gently until well combined. Transfer the batter to the pan and smooth the top.
Step
7
Bake the cake until puffed slightly over the edge of the pan and the edges are set but the center is still wobbly, 25 to 30 minutes.
Step
8
Let the cake cool in the pan set on a wire rack for about 30 minutes, until room temperature or just a tiny bit warm. Carefully run a thin knife or offset spatula around the sides of the pan, then remove the ring. Dust with cocoa powder and serve at room temperature or just slightly warm, with whipped cream or ice cream. Use a warm, clean, dry knife for the tidiest slices. Loosely cover any leftover cake and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Tip
- Opt for chopped chocolate bars instead of chips for this recipe, as chips contain stabilizers that will negatively affect the texture of the finished cake.
Ratings
4
out of 5
901
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Cooking Notes
giselle
I have made a similar cake…try Kailua instead of rum. Sometimes I ad cinnamon and cayenne for and extra flavor dimension.
Frances Edelstein
This is similar to Maida Heatter's Chocolate Mousse Torte, which was declared Dessert of the Year in 1979. It was published in the NYT and is in their archives. Pie dish is filled with part of the mousse than baked like a soufflé. When cooled, it sinks and becomes the 'crust'. This is filled with the rest of the mousse which has been chilling. Decorated with whipped film. Oh so chocolate!
Deborah
I’m confused about the directions In step 4: add egg mixture to chocolate. Shouldn’t you temper the eggs by slowly adding the warm/hot chocolate mixture and whisking the eggs at the same time? Thanks!
Frances Young
To save yourself a bit of washing up, whip the whites first, remove them to another bowl and then, without washing the bowl, add the egg yolks and sugar. The yolks won't mind a bit of egg white or sugar. I've done this and it works like a charm.
maria novella
It is an old dessert in Italy, many family have they recipe, also mine!NYTC recipe calls for an unnecessary lot of sugar.
WendyMM
Deborah, the eggs won't start to set/curdle until about 140F. If you melt the chocolate and butter slowly enough, and do so before whipping the egg yolk mixture, it should be a reasonable temperature. You can check with a thermometer.
llucy
Wonderful cake, beautifully soft and chocolatey on the inside, with the slight crust on the outside. Sugar is just right, not too sweet. Will definitely make again. Bake at 350, no fan, 27 minutes. Serve with rum whipped cream and sour cherries
amhjr
This is very similar to a Chez Panisse "Pave" and also an Italian torte featured in Saveur. Both use flour and/or almond flour (from 1/3 to 1 3/4 cups). Personally I like the almond flour, which also keeps it gluten free.
ldgcooks
This was really easy and fabulous. We added bourbon to the dough and did a bourbon whipped cream and it was a huge hit.
jmack
I've been making a version of this cake for years - with a slightly different measure of ingredients - from a 2013 Bon Appetit recipe by Alison Roman. Fallen Cake. It's my go-to flourless choc cake recipe. The cake is baked a few minutes longer and topped with 2T sugar before baking giving the crust nice crackly finish.
Nick
@Deborah, the chocolate won’t be hot enough to scramble the eggs, so no tempering necessary!
Lschnei4
Bake at 350 F 25 minutes. Can use almond flour
WendyMM
Deborah, the eggs won't start to set/curdle until about 140F. If you melt the chocolate and butter slowly enough, and do so before whipping the egg yolk mixture, it should be a reasonable temperature. You can check with a thermometer.
Holly T
How did you catch the mouse?
Carmen
This is the clear winner of all our gluten-free desserts. We make it every time our group of 4 families gets together — one mom is allergic to wheat — and EVERYBODY loves it. We make it constantly (with rum) and usually serve it with whipped cream.One tip: My husband uses chocolate chips all the time when he runs out of bar chocolate. Despite the warning here, it hasn't changed the texture or taste one whit.
jss
I’d like to make this a day ahead but serve slightly warmed. Anyone try warming it after a day in fridge?
Mari
Made this for my husband, who is a chocolate fiend. Absolutely loved it, was licking the plate clean. I suggested he take some cake to work and he gave me a dirty look.
Jasper
Huge hit. Came out perfectly.
Buffylou
My group thought this cake was way too rich. I'll stick with one of the many other chocolate cakes on the site next time.
Patrick D.
I could have cried...yesterday I baked this cake...went perfectly ..New Years Eve 2023 as a dessert for our dinner with friends as I was about to serve it...the bottom fell out of the springform pan and the cake was on the floor....the smell was amazing!...the texture as I cleaned it up was a dream...new year new chances!!!....
Aviva W.
I did that with a perfect pear tart a few years back on Thanksgiving. It took me three days to make and I was eight months pregnant, too. The pan separated coming out of the oven and the whole thing landed upside down on the floor. I was unconsolable.
I Could Cry
I baked it yesterday...New Years Eve 2023...It fell on the floor as I was about to serve it for dessert....I could have killed myself....but the kitchen smelled lovely...and as cleaned up the mess ...my hands fehlt the amazong texture of the cake.. 2024 brings new changes....Happy New Year
catmoo
Low sodium folks: I accidentally left out the salt; tasted amazing and everyone raved
Viki
why is 300 grams equal to 2 cups? technically it's 1 1/4 cups but 300 grams =10 oz. which is how most chocolate comes before we chop this up... so confusing
jenae
Almost too salty… Wants to be served with raspberry jam or another tart berry. No fat in the bowl for egg whites…
Peter Nelson
Whip the egg whites in your mixer first, place beaten whites in a bowl and set aside. Then, proceed from the top in the dirty bowl…saves on cleanup. Springform definitely preferable otherwise you’re serving out of a beatup old cake pan. Or…can you invert the cake onto a plate??!
Patricia
What's to say? It was decadent and delicious!!
Paris Calcagnini
Can this cake be made the day before serving, refrigerated over night, and then brought to room temperature? Thanks
arg
Mine fell almost immediately out of the oven. Anyone else have this happen?
ilkirm
Literally came out perfect. Friends kids said it was the best dessert they’ve ever had. Rich and delicious
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